Terry Francona Red Sox Mgr

Each and every Wednesday at this time we talk with the manager of the Boston Red Sox. Terry Francona joining us from -- his office in Seattle hate Terry how you don't. Good morning guys good morning after Rivera what reduce you feel like you've been on the road for about a year and a half body here. It's up to it it is just seemed like it very long -- all be excited to. -- predictable

it was a it was a out weird game last night you get off to a pretty good start against Hernandez. And it did look like Gabbard what what was the issue -- obviously couldn't find the plate but what do you think the problem was with him.

Well -- command issues were were from the very beginning -- as opposed to dethrone them. Really didn't go any of his pitches for strikes and this was his fastball all over the place the but it losses on -- and -- retirement. Repeating pitches to his toughest division in the best to that. You can still see you always want to push and pull a double play because it is -- of the of the -- but he has. But buddies you'll get -- throw strikes ago problems or Bradley or -- offer and yet so he walks and total money. Really hip baskets to consult the top spot.

I'm I'm sure you must been thinking give us at least three -- four is that up I don't want to go to the bullpen and in the first inning and and screw up this game -- Today's game.

Well explosives we had and that didn't don't carpet up in the first of -- end up -- up in the second and we got committed before. Sold really even though you have -- it'll get out of bases loaded jam. But now you don't give up for the fourth or fifth inning it is already released but ops four times so it puts a strain on your bullpen at some point. You know you -- we almost have to shut him down to go to some adults. And we needed to stay away premiere because he was is that Oilers warming up so we -- quite a little. Not a battle and to get the cure for for. Seattle spoke about a hundred. Was two different breaking balls actually a product organized -- oh political rules spirited gave him. Turn him back from he'll be in doubt we just couldn't get on -- Or is it disappointing loss but I thought we I felt something extremely well.

Terry -- some quotes from you in the paper today about how difficult it is to do the right thing here for. Julio Lugo and for the baseball team and to get him going to -- you need him to be and to still do what's best for your team -- you battled us on a day to day basis.

Well David to balances it is not always easy to read it slowly you -- get caught up -- of those in right now in although I'm not a big picture. But I tried not to do that at the same time to try to balance. Playing core we went Pedroia was stronger looked like coral that and it worked up pretty well now the same thing -- legal struggle. Play coral -- and try to. Sometimes mix and match you don't going that we gotta deal Lugo go in and is try to -- away from somebody. Is probably an easy thing to do -- bowlers -- sort of the correct thing to do.

You know our house going to I was going to ask you before use the phrase mix and match without going to say that that that makes a lot of sense. Whereas you know players they hear platoon when you -- mix and match and wondering if you know Julio Lugo is okay with this arrangement it do you have to talk to him about this if you plan to do it.

We talked to everybody whether it actually it'll just talked about a -- anything I mean we pay off tomorrow or -- candidates well want him to do get hot. And I know at some point you will but I guess my point is -- news if a guy who won 90. Electoral responsible it's sometimes -- somebody yelled that's basically what we're not talking about a two run it is just. Again we want is going to do pot of them were all confident it will. But -- public sale for a while well.

I know it's easy to say what to do -- to you know -- the words are words are cheap and easy bet. And what does a guy do when he's in that situation how do you get self bottom.

There's a lot of different ways of ought to poised to stay in it. -- we want to Atlanta and he put the good part about it all five straight arms actually don't want to fault that they get the force of virtual. Sometimes you run through bad luck sometimes when you run through bad luck you try to change things because did didn't war and that's what he wrote the trouble. You know if you stay with the same approach a number of times you are going to hit that in fact if you're good enough which used. Would you change your approach which guys do. They're -- the problems and that's what is -- developed -- some. Fundamentally some tough -- he's futile attempt multiple but it it is -- over wasteful he's got to pebble he's come forward to break in the ball. It's probably 9295 and it they're sitting -- to make it could've more people but. Of the bad it can drag sometimes because that's who's got a soft these sort of issues please try to work out and you don't look at speed. You know if he keeps on the year he's going to get to it that way.

Do you feel -- carrion and into the field at all Terry.

really don't I don't see two it appeared I didn't pop open in doubles triples Borland falter he didn't run and I think that's all frustration. I would we've obviously speak about because we want that -- off but. Dolly's he seems to be told try to play the game which is what we actually talked home but two weeks -- is what you are struggle on. Now about to which one we go where you are struggled to this extent just try to play the game. Just try to help us when the game that's probably the best -- did you take out some of the -- don't think you know reason it'll look at two batting average just try to do which can't opens with a game that we're going to

TOR Manny is played more than any other position player on your team so we definitely needed. A day off wonder why you gave them last night off and and not today -- with the -- coming up tomorrow.

Well let's do -- that's simply wanted -- I thought about it on Monday. But he got such good he's had such good numbers against weaver maybe if you had great aggregate we were. And that -- but you don't really want to maybe to have today. He didn't swung the bat terribly -- weaver that a guy less letter writer real tough writer but -- with a big game today. Want to keep but it is bad -- their because jury award treaty not to play so that makes well at Wimbledon right. Did want to have another lefty yup sold their looked so again sometimes you try to give guys that they want to -- at least and it helps them the most.

Do you feel that that then and I'm thinking specifically of your 34 guys and rather and usually they're not ranked in the top ten in the American league in a lot of categories they usually are. Is it just an aberration right now.

Well -- it was important to our team was ranked in the -- him which is a spiritual matters. David took some great last liked that last about it epileptic surely won't just learned. He finally got a pro bowl bond but up to -- he -- he feels good you know they've battle them troll or worse like real heard it. And it's probably going to the perfect and his power numbers because woody -- married but. But you know what I think rather than just make an issue out of it if those guys swung the bat and they -- state ballots they used ballpark. And they have quality at bats an -- orbital refused I gotta feeling we're going to be okay. You know if somebody doesn't hit 50 Bible brought that doesn't mean we can't win if they knock the ball -- bubble stricter walks keep -- what we're going to -- going to be fun.

Now who knows what would have happened last night in ninth inning but my question to you is this did Mike -- have a walk. Taken away from a.

It but I think it caught a big brick and these older guys so. It ought to anyone -- rather take our chances with a -- of personal dugout. It'll it'll be. Nobody on and one out fellows got I think we've we've built --

Terry when that when Curt Schilling went on the DL you had -- yet to make a decision on who was going to replace him in the rotation. You have options like Kason Gabbard Devern Hansack Jon Lester -- went into your decision making process took the light on Gabbard as the guy.

Well jeopardy and Leicester or just through that were available because of the took the timing of what shall but it fell. -- was right up like Japan affect write them a little bit -- we always tell guys when they go back to play we're going to pick out all the best and that was in this case it was by all accounts from the -- of all the people their budget was -- Now -- it's it's obviously open it was special issue. -- Lester what you've been through. Try to fight back from everything and he's just he's not he's not quite finished product or what you want to he's going to get Perez remote doubts. But we weren't too sure have a thick mop it maybe making 23 starts with the possibility able back. We don't know we didn't think that was at his best interest sometimes. It's not easy to make those decisions and we we will actually have we -- to what's but the real culprits -- just to talk to about it. What we don't necessarily always do. But want to make sure the communication was good because his kids don't oldest kid that future. I had our rotation but right now he's spent a lot these public just not quite ready to do that.

Is there any update on Curt Schilling field.

Delaware boy beating sporting what she'll if you will go toward don't intend strength and conditioning program about the medical people wouldn't -- want all representing he is going to be reevaluated. Monday when we get back to Boston by the medical people and then the whole visit after that evaluation is going to be a real good one. We're going to give it back up patrolled have been getting back contract it'll get that -- to run his course and some of that. Is determined by how he feels against guys total lot of innings he probably knows his arm in his body better than it was sort of takes that put they're too. But we had good meetings in the medical people. Again they they're there's been a lot of time. Epidemic -- I guess what -- look for in a nutshell it's didn't him back and get him back for the rest of the season or he can pitched. You know delayed October beat the guy we need.

Does the timing of the all star break figure into this is well.

Not particularly were tried not to have any timing. Effective what we wanted to -- there is no artificial deadlines we want him to pitch weak glut deterred by based that would just be consistent not. Not you know read about the vote vote. The locker velocity what could be himself because that's the guy we need -- we depend on.

to feel about the top of the lineup -- specifically the leadoff spot you can't say that you have 80. Single leadoff hitter you have a number of guys who do it it are you comfortable with that so far.

Yeah I think our record indicates that we -- he's been up there are the last couple days TV's not players took local editor did. Do you have a real good job book they're you closed -- billick Eackles also pretty ignorant or -- I still don't think we can -- also ownership got dressed offensively so I think that's a good side adequate you know in the past we've we've. We've had a sometimes -- to win them and we found a lot of different ways. Two to win games where we haven't been through brutal course specifically by diplomats have those are going to happen but in the meantime. We've found ways to want to close games last night. We didn't win and we we we battled back against the guy with a -- novel are going to have a -- world times couldn't push to go ahead run across.

I'll be the first to admit in the in the talk radio business we. Definitely over analyze things so I I -- hard -- shock -- you know -- just try to tell -- what goes -- that the sausage -- you don't -- know -- I'm telling you are we over analyzing Coco Crisp it seems like he is playing with a lot more competent but maybe that's just a fact that he's getting some hits.

I doubt disabled might be a by product of another title quicker wrong he looks to be like -- almost a bit better. Because he's back and get by and knock on wood everywhere the richer. Duke on the fastball right now kip look past that certainly that's a good going to be good feel that's -- we can talk about what -- If Beckett -- like one -- in local it is -- old. That that's going to be a good food for Coco don't but he can get to a obviously must be to help lead. It used bout that ball or certainly couldn't get to a now don't you can't -- to -- and it just come off his bat with with a little bit extra on it. He's played outfield since they won as good as you can play it. Well it's exciting -- weren't -- will take offense anywhere we can get especially when you couple that was besides.

Terry Kevin Youkilis -- hit 2345 and six for you at different times during the year. Do we have an and understanding for how unusual it is to have a a batter -- that kind of flexibility for you.

It shall I haven't looked around the league enough to see how how other guys to attack I just know that and we try to have some consistent you know lineup. And sometimes by moving one guy. Allows everybody else the -- they -- they belong. Mike you all music creature of habit we really want to stay were you taping additional wherever -- was global moved back up too much -- able to move you closer and his ability up a professional about where you put him. It makes it -- qualities you're Russell weeks if somebody or what we we need somebody around any that it doesn't -- sold it really uncle pork.

you mentioned -- we talked to Jason yesterday about his home run the other day on the 3 count. And how unusual it is for him -- even swing on a 3 count how many guys have the green light to do that more than we would ever realize.

Probably -- more. -- we anytime we value. They hold on or potential hall brought more than a walk. We we we let him swing now they also put up much again about money it'll dentist could do it real -- doesn't mean exposed to go at some point. Well what it means is we have enough compliments of darkness wouldn't strike. And they're going to get a fastball sometimes there's a lot of different reasons why you swing real sometimes. It's because you don't think the guys going to just 31 fastball. And you know he's got a good fastball hitter. If you try to help out. Doesn't -- certain meter 300 hitter or things like that. We've given to a group on Israel a lot of times because if he gets just reopen its as old he can hit -- home -- We're with a -- want to stick around a total of 31 slider that doesn't put him in the best position didn't hit. But our guys are smart enough big swing at strikes -- on there which he'll.

You know Tito watch enough putts for the mariners closed the game last night I was thinking if you put papelbon and the mariners uniform and putts in the Red Sox uniform. I think the fans of both teams were really would know the difference he looked like papelbon in some ways.

Yeah unfortunately unfortunately Rossi because it. Now -- really brought it literally up -- hopefully they'll heavily -- but he did -- maybe you'll be available yet he's pretty special guy. He becomes such a pretty good number it first came up to but at least he was -- sort of that setup role or so ago while those guys. -- what you have guys like that you could reinsert -- game Okajima doesn't certainly inevitable loss in the same type of pitcher. But he's dug up for us we give him the ball. And it it sort predicament -- what you look for.

Went with putts obviously as velocity does is it is there a lot of movement on his fast.

I picked -- took I would describe there's there's a lot of finished that last three or four principles simply doubled year. And -- after the same figure right I don't know how I UT just idle but it is to cut another -- to.

You mentioned already about Manny being back in the lineup today I assume Julio -- shorter is that wrong on my.

I'll play Lugo at short complicated but it will mall play right intimate. And -- much after that it was they -- exact lineup.

So JD Drew gets the day off today that.

To speed agility in the game. As well actually day off he could have maybe the first six innings off middle farmer -- old right hander.

got a mission timer on the road I mean this is this thing it's coming to a close road trip by. Are -- getting emotional over this thing you want to spend some time there.

Poll that was very long road trip. That we have been all over the place you know had a -- it was not it does seem like reserve -- week news this was discussed by the -- and we repeated speed. Great way to. -- try to block their natural body good ones and till the play to -- don't -- three more -- we doubled off they're market collect ourselves cure for Texas. --

I know you're not sorry to see interleague play go either.

Buddy -- a little bit. That we actually get Parcells pretty well a product David Ortiz a pulled -- out of New York. What he'll play first base or it'll play a position to go out -- you gotta can't get embarrassed and he's actually he held himself well like you can't believe -- intensity. It was unbelievable oh -- really product.

Terry we always appreciate the time have a safe trip home we'll talk to next week TLC Terry Francona Red Sox manager joining us from his office in Seattle